Patch's Guide To Beating The Heat In Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Maybe you don't have air conditioning. Maybe you need a break from work. Maybe you're going a little stir crazy staying inside and scrolling through Patch.

Either way, it's just too hot today. With temperatures in the high 90s, and anticipated "feel like" temperatures in the 110s over the weekend, you're going to need all the help you can get to stay cool.

Here are some ways you and/or the kids can beat the heat either today and throughout the summer in Morris County:

Indoor Activities

Morris County Library

If you're looking for air conditioning in a space where nobody forces you to buy anything, libraries reign supreme. The County Libraryis located at 30 East Hanover Ave in Whippany. Open Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday in the summer. You can also call your local library to inquire about story times and other kid-friendly activities.

Movie Theaters

Escape the heat for a couple hours (or maybe three hours, since you can still see "Avengers: Endgame"). Here are movie times for theaters near central Morris County.

Play Spaces

Places specifically designed to let your little one set their imagination free, there are several indoor play places in Morris County. Consider Kidnetic in Montville, Imagine That!!! in Florham Park, or Pump It Up in Randolph. You can find a bigger list of indoor attractions here.

Malls

You can always try businesses and grocery stores. But if you want to walk around more, there's the Rockaway Townsquare Mall. Open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ice Skating

No, we're not joking. Mennen Arena offers open public skating times Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday and Sunday during the summer. You can find the full open skate schedule on their website.

The Great Outdoors

Inflatable Lake Obstacle Course

Combine a bounce house with a lake, and you've got Sunrise Lake Beach Club. It's located in Lewis Morris County Park, just outside of Morristown, and costs under $15. Weekend hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and weekday hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.

Splash pads

Several local parks offer splash pads, including Turkey Brook Park in Mount Olive. It opens daily at 10 a.m. Want to entertain Fido? The park also features a doggie section.

Ice Cream

In 1984, former President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. This year, the day falls on July 21. But Reagan never said you couldn't celebrate ice cream outside of these days.

Here are some options in and around Morris County:

• Beenie's Ice Cream
• Mendham Creamery
• Denville Dairy Maid
• Das Creamery
• Seven Scoops & Sips
• Cliff's Homemade Ice Cream
• Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor

Stay Safe

Ideally, we'd all spend blistering days cooling off inside. But that's not always an option.

If you or your employees are working outside, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides these tips:

• Provide workers with water, rest and shade.
• Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or build a tolerance for working in the heat.
• Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention.
• Monitor workers for signs of illness.

Pets

We can't forget our furry friends. Bring pets inside your home during extreme heat, and make sure they have plenty to drink.

Before walking your dog, place your hand or bare foot on the pavement for 10 seconds, according to Banfield Pet Hospital. If it's too hot for you to keep your hand or foot there, it's too hot for your dog. Stay on grassy surfaces if they need to go out. Banfield Pet Hospital says to consider investing in a pair of booties.

With reporting by Josh Bakan